Significant Figures/Ambiguous Presentation/Examples/186,000,000

Example of Ambiguous Presentation of Significant Figures

Consider the number $n$ presented as:

$n = 186 \, 000 \, 000$

It is impossible to tell exactly how many significant figures $n$ is presented to.

This could be any number from $3$ to $9$.

Suppose $n$ is presented to $5$ significant figures.

Then $n$ can be written in scientific notation as:

$n = 1 \cdotp 8600 \times 10^9$

and the matter is immediately clear.

If desired, $n$ can also be presented as:

$n = 168 \cdotp 00$ million

Sources

• 1972: Murray R. Spiegel and R.W. Boxer: Theory and Problems of Statistics (SI ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Significant Figures